Validation of 'reported concussion' within a national health survey.

SETTING: The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is a national cross-sectional health survey, which has collected information on injuries serious enough to limit normal activity.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the construct and discriminant validity of reporting 'concussion or other brain injury' in the CCHS as the respondents' most serious injury.

METHODS: Construct validity was assessed by describing the injury profile. Discriminant validity was assessed by examining differences between those reporting concussion or other brain injury, and either: respondents not reporting brain injury (population control); or respondents reporting orthopaedic injuries (orthopaedic control).

RESULTS: In total, 1,852 of the 682,455 eligible CCHS respondents (≥12 years) reported a concussion or other brain injury within the prior year, a population annual incidence of 0.29%. Those reporting concussion or other brain injury were younger and male (p < 0.001), with an injury acquired by falling (p < 0.001) or sport or physical exercise (p < 0.001). Most (78.4%) who reported concussions or other brain injuries received medical attention from a health professional within 48 hours of their injury. The reported injury profiles appear to differ from the population controls and those reporting orthopaedic injuries.

CONCLUSIONS: The report of 'concussion or other brain injury' in the CCHS may be a valid source of population-based traumatic brain injury epidemiological data.